1 | Birthday Surprise

Ananya's POV

"Happy birthday, Ana," one of my friends wished me.

"Happy birthday cutie"

"Thank you" I'm celebrating my birthday for the first time in my life, and I'm overjoyed. They have done a great deal for me. Although it is not a large party, it means a lot to me because no one has ever done anything for me.

After cutting the cake and receiving sweet wishes from my friends, I gathered all of my presents and placed them on a table.

"Cheers," everyone said as they clicked their wine glasses together.

"Ana, what happened? Why aren't you having a drink ?" One of my colleagues at the company where I work inquired.

"Umm...I don't drink"

"Oh really? Please say you're joking" She burst out laughing.

"No, I'm serious."

"Girl, you're 25 years old and you've never tasted wine?" In disbelief, she inquired.

"She is our cult girl, shy and religious." Shanaya, my roommate, told her, laughing.

I smiled

"But today you have to drink," to which she replied, "NO!"

"Only one sip," she was about to force me to drink when my phone rang.

"Excuse me"

"I will not leave you today like this. Return after the call"

I moved away from them and turned around. When I looked at my phone's screen, I saw that the call was from.....aunty?

What is the point of her calling me?

Perhaps she wants to wish you well. My subconscious laughed at me.

Oh, Ana, how could you think such a thing. Has she ever wished you before, even when you were in her house, that she would wish you today, especially over the call?

I pushed all my thoughts aside and picked up her phone to find out why she had called.

"Hello," she said. "Hello Ana, come home right now."

"And why would I?"

"Ananya Kapoor, don't argue with me. I could only be this nice to you. Please return home as soon as possible."

"I won't," I said.

"Ananya, I need you here in half an hour," my uncle said from the other end of the phone before hanging up.

"Ana, what happened? Is everything all right?" Shanaya inquired.

"Yes, but I have to leave"

"Where?"

"An emergency has arisen at home."

"Does that mean you're going to your uncle's house?"

"Yes, and I apologize, Shanaya. You made so many arrangements for me, and I'm leaving everything in the middle."

"It's all right, dear. Please contact me if you require my help and support."

"All right, I love you."

"Love you too"

I kissed her cheeks before hailing a taxi to uncle's house. I arrived in half an hour and discovered a car outside the house. I'm pretty sure it's not my uncle's car. Do we have any visitors? Let's see what happens without making any assumptions.

When I entered the house, I was surprised to find it unlocked. When I got to the hall, there were two men sitting on the sofa, exhaling not-so-good vibes. I tried but failed to recognize them. Their attire and demeanor told me that they were not good men and as far as I know they were not our relatives as well.

One of them stood up and moved towards me, his dirty eyes scanning me from head to toe. I stood there motionless, not moving an inch. He approached me, licked his lips, and began circling me, analyzing my body. I could feel his eyes reading my body when he was behind me. He came in front of me after a round.

"Can you tell me your name, Barbie?"

I pressed my lips together.

"Ananya, where are your manners? He has asked something to you" Uncle scolded me.

"Ana...Ananya Kapoor"

"Ana...Ananya Kapoor" I was disgusted at the point where his lips touched my skin. So I immediately whipped it with the back of my palm. He gave me one last nod of approval before turning to face my uncle.

"OK, we're ready to accept your offer," Uncle and Aunty exclaimed.

Offer? Which offer are they referring to?

"Let's go girl," he said, grabbing my arm.

"Please excuse me. Why would I follow you?" I yanked my arm away from his grasp.

"Because you are now our possession," he said as he approached my face. I immediately drew my head back, making room.

"What?" I was completely taken aback.

"Can I have a few words with my niece?" my uncle asked, "Of course," he led me to a room, and Aunty quickly followed.

"Who exactly is this uncle?"

"It's just that you have to go with them and do whatever they want," Aunty interrupted uncle.

Aunty was silenced when Uncle said, "One minute, Sudha."

"Look, Ana, you know I raised you as my daughter, and it was me who saved your life in that car accident in which you lost your parents," I gulped and nodded. Why is he repeating that incident when he knows it is the most painful for me?

"I've raised you as my daughter without expecting anything in return. I'm going to ask you for something for the first time, and I'm hoping you won't let me down."

I was staring at him, perplexed.

"Do you think of me as your father?" He inquired abruptly.

"Uncle, of course. What is the point of even asking this question?"

"Then it is time to fulfill your duty as a daughter," he continued.

"What do you mean?"

I was trying to read his expressions by looking at his face. He approached me and took both of my hands in his, rubbing the backs of my palms with his thumbs.

"Actually, Ana, your uncle is deeply in debt. I've sold everything, including this house, and we're about to move into a rented room, but there's a big bill to pay. I attempted everything and contacted every possible source, but nothing worked."

He paused for a second and took a deep breath, as if preparing to say the next line.

"Don't beat around the bush, just get to the point," Aunty advised Uncle.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any other options right now..."

"So you're selling me now," I finished his sentence.

He looked down, dispelling my skepticism.

"Uncle, how could you do this to me? How could you do this?" " I screamed

"Okay, there's no need for temper tantrums; just do what we say. We have already finalized the deal" aunty said

"Without even asking me?"

"What was the point of questioning you in the first place? Don't forget that you are under our beneficence"

"So you're going to do this to me? Why did you intervene to save me from the accident? Why didn't you just let me die? You made my life in this house a living hell, and now you're killing my soul. I am a person, not a commodity or property that you can sell to pay off your debt. I have some rights as well, and I will not violate them at any cost" This was all said in one breath. I'm not sure where I got the courage to say all of this to her.

"Simply put up your hands. You can't get away from it right now. We are far too helpless "The woman in front of me stated.

"So, why did you pick me? Why don't you sell your daughter, Ruhi? "I screamed because I couldn't control my emotions.

"ANANYA!" Uncle screamed, and Aunty slapped me across the face at the same time. I am knocked to the ground by the force of the impact.

"Don't forget your status. You belong on the floor, exactly where you are. We were the ones who let you in. We provided you with a place to stay, clothing to keep you warm, and food to fill your stomach. We can at least expect this from you. I don't believe this compares to what we've done for you "

I had a burning urge to cry. For many years, I was trapped between these monsters. When people live with animals, they develop attachments to them, but these people were so inhuman that they had no attachment to me.

"Now, don't waste any more time; get up and go with them without any drama."

"I would not go with them," I protested while standing. "I would not go with them" I screamed at the top of my lungs and dashed for the door.

"Catch her," uncle yelled, and I dashed around the couch to save myself before bolting for the main door. I opened it and was about to step outside when one of the men wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me off the ground.

"Leave me, leave me, you scumbag, just leave me!"

I thrashed in his grip and pinched his wrist, but it was all in vain. He cinched his grip even tighter. I burst out crying, unable to control my sobs.

"Please, Uncle, don't do this to me. Please!"

I pleaded with him. His gaze softened slightly. I had a ray of hope that he would stop now and hug me and soothe me like he used to do when I was a little girl when I cried.

"PLEASE," I begged.

But all my hopes were dashed when he lowered his gaze and turned his face away.

"Don't worry, Barbie, we'll take good care of you," the second man said as he stepped in front of me, a devilish and lustful smile on his face. He is disgusting, his smile is disgusting, and everyone in this room is disgusting.

"Take her," Aunty said.

"NO!"

I thrashed around and managed to break free from his grip, but in an instant I was back in his embrace.

"Don't fight it. We don't want any flaws on your lovely body, do we, Barbie?"

When I looked down at my wrist, I noticed that he had pierced my skin and that blood was pouring out of it. But this pain pales in comparison to what I'm going through emotionally. People I used to call my family have slashed my soul in two.

"We don't have time to fritter away. Let's get started "He dragged me to the door.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, my feet firmly planted on the ground.

"Then we have no choice, our way or the hard way, you're going with us," another man said as he placed a handkerchief on my nose.

I try to hold my breath for as long as I can.

"Barbie, you can't hold it in forever. Don't fight yourself; instead, conserve your energy for the future" I tried very hard not to breathe, but my body gave up and I inhaled the chloroform to protect my lungs. I was dizzy and exhausted. After muttering 'sweet dreams' in my ear, he placed me on his shoulder as if I weighed nothing.

'Mumma and Daddy, please help me!'

This was the last thing I wished for before completely losing my senses and drifting into darkness.